2:45 Leopardstown Tips

Last year's winning jockey is booked for the first time here, and that shows the trainer's intent: he means business now on the horse's third start for him (replacing a jockey with poorer stats). The new trainer is firing now too, and the two runs for him have shown enough to suggest that he's likely to have improved the horse. It looks like this race could be the time to show his true ability, possibly on the way to bigger prizes.

I think this has seen enough money to suggest it may win. Hence the win bet on it. I have another in mind for an each-way bet. Fingers crossed I'm right on both.

Buachaillbocht is two pounds out of the handicap but would have finished closer than sixth of 28, beaten less than nine lengths here in the Paddy Power Handicap Chase if he had not been hampered. That was over three furlongs further, and he was a novice chase winner over two and a half miles at Fairyhouse last April.

Really like this horse who had a good novice chase campaign last season running well in serious company. Best run was in a beginners chase when second to Three Card Brag with Captain Cody and Now Is The Hour just behind and how good does that form look now. I backed him in the Leinster National and he looked sure to go close but unseated close home and though cut no ice in the Irish National is a horse to follow. Ran a blinder here in the Paddy Power Chase last time looking as if going to win before fading into third so drop in trip looks a good call. That form too has been well boosted since as well with the winner dotting up at Cheltenham in the cross country and Now Is The Hour winning the Thyestes subsequently. Has class as was a listed winner as a hurdler and looks sure win a big pot soon as gets more chase experience. Form is there for all to see and is a confident pick with that good run last time under his belt.

You probably remember Waterford Whispers running an excellent race when second in the 2024 Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. He has been a slow learner over fences and remains winless after five chase starts, yet has shown more this season with placed efforts at Listowel and Galway before a below-par run at Punchestown when sent off 11/8 favourite. He jumped left there, lost ground at several fences, and never really travelled. It was a performance that looked too bad to be true. He now returns after a 71 day break and should be happier back in testing conditions. JP McManus fields a strong team for this race, but Mark Walsh choosing him off a low weight of only 10-4 makes him interesting at double figure odds, with firms paying six places on each-way terms.

Thrives in these big-field handicaps and won a Listed contest last time out. Handles heavy ground and has course form. Has amassed over £100k in prize money and has a better chance than the odds suggest off this weight.

Prends Garde A Toi is a 7yo gelding trained by Gordon Elliott. He won a Naas beginners' chase in his penultimate start on today's heavy ground over 2m 4f, posting a career-high RPR of 137, beating two Willie Mullins-trained horses. King Alexander was beaten a neck in a Gowran chase, and odds-on favorite Funiculi Funicula finished 2.75l behind. Funiculi Funicula has since finished a nose in front of King Alexander in that Gowran chase behind another Willie Mullins-trained horse, C'Est Ta Chance, now rated 140. Today's drop back in trip should suit Prends Garde A Toi, who is of French stock, bred for chasing, and still looks feasibly well handicapped off 133. The application of first-time cheekpieces can help him concentrate, as he is prone to the odd jumping error.

Made a promising chase debut in a decent contest at Galway in October over 22f, finishing 3rd after jumping safely throughout and not being given a hard ride. Shaped as if all wasn’t well next time at Navan on heavy ground, and it was a similar story back there under the same conditions on his next outing. Ran slightly better at Naas last time, finishing 6th of 9 on slightly better ground but was unsuited by the drop back to two miles when moving into handicaps for the first time. This trip will suit more, but the ground may be a concern again when going up in class.

O Moore Park has run respectably in defeat. He placed fifth in the Paddy Power in the hands of Sean O'Keeffe. A repeat of that performance should give him a chance to hit the frame. Ground conditions should not represent a problem.

Harry Cobden (SR 50%) rides JP McManus-owned Sa Majeste. Willie Mullins (SR 30%) has a lot entered in the race, a Grade 3 handicap chase. Eight-year-old Sa Majeste has shown much promise in the past and has two decent wins over fences at close to three miles. Third in the Kim Muir and tried in the Irish National last year. Never involved in the Paddy Power here last time. A winner off a mark just 1 pound higher in the past, he looks quite well in carrying 10-12 in this race. The trip is on the short side, but he's very much a possible winner.

He was decisively beaten over hurdles here last time, but now that he is under the training of Gavin Cromwell, who is back in good form, this 9-year-old with a solid record of five wins should not be ruled out. He is generally seen as a strong performer who can tackle this distance, but he excels when there is a strong pace. He could be worth considering a small each-way bet at 22/1 on muddy ground, with six places on offer.

Another Rothwell horse that I think could possibly outrun its odds and place at a nice price. When this changed hands to Rothwell a few runs back, it was clear it was deemed to still have ability, winning on the first run for him. Hopefully this can get into the top 6 at a nice price here.